Anti-seeding arrangement

Abstract

The present invention relates to an anti-seeding arrangement ( 100 ) for invasive treatment of a human or animal body comprising an elongated hollow member ( 102 ), and a first electrode ( 116 ) of which one portion is arranged near one end of the elongated hollow member ( 102 ), said first electrode ( 116 ) being connectable to an electromagnetic field generator ( 110 ), wherein the elongated hollow member ( 102 ) is arranged to be inserted into the human or animal body, control means ( 106, 108 ) arranged to control the electromagnetic field generator ( 110 ) for delivering radio frequency bursts to the first electrode ( 116 ), and sensing means ( 104 ) to sense a physical property dependent on the insertion length of the elongated hollow member ( 102 ) in the human or animal body, and wherein the control means ( 106, 108 ) is arranged to control the operation of the electromagnetic field generator ( 110 ) in dependence of the sensed physical property.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . An arrangement adapted to avoid seeding infectious cells during invasive medical procedures on a human body or an animal body, the arrangement comprising:
 an electromagnetic field generator;   an elongated hollow member having two ends and an electrode, the electrode positioned such that one portion of the electrode is at one of the two ends of the elongated hollow member, the electrode being connected to the electromagnetic field generator, the elongated hollow member being configured to be inserted into a human body or an animal body;   a sensing unit configured to sense a penetration depth of the elongated hollow member in tissue; and   a control unit arranged to control the electromagnetic field generator so as to deliver radio frequency (“RF”) energy bursts to the electrode and being arranged to receive the sensed penetration depth from the sensing unit and control the electromagnetic field generator in dependence on the sensed penetration depth and comprising a triggering unit arranged to trigger the electromagnetic field generator to deliver RF energy bursts in dependence on variations of the sensed penetration depth of the elongated hollow member.   
     
     
         23 . The arrangement according to  claim 22 , wherein the elongated hollow member comprises a region that is electrically insulated in relation to the electrode. 
     
     
         24 . The arrangement according to  claim 23 , wherein the insulated region comprises a hollow insulating sheath being longitudinally movable along the elongated hollow member over the electrode, whereby the effective length of the electrode can be varied without moving the elongated hollow member longitudinally. 
     
     
         25 . The arrangement according to  claim 23 , wherein the insulating region comprises a hollow insulating sheath being longitudinally movable along the elongated hollow member over the electrode, the hollow insulating sheath having a first part arranged to be insertable in tissue surrounding the electrode, and a second part arranged to hinder further penetration of the second part into tissue, the second part comprising a flange. 
     
     
         26 . The arrangement according to  claim 22 , wherein the electrode is longitudinally segmented with each segment individually controlled by the control unit wherein the control unit is arranged to control the triggering unit to trigger the electromagnetic field generator to deliver bursts of radio frequency (RF) energy to selected segments of the electrode, wherein a segment of the electrode that is positioned at an air-skin interface of the elongated hollow member can be deactivated whereby skin burn effects can be avoided. 
     
     
         27 . The arrangement according to  claim 22 , wherein the elongated hollow member comprises a plurality of electrodes each of which is individually controllable by the control means wherein the control means is arranged to control the triggering unit to trigger the electromagnetic field generator to deliver bursts of radio frequency (RF) energy to selected electrodes of the plurality of electrodes of the elongated hollow member. 
     
     
         28 . The arrangement according to  claim 22 , wherein the elongated hollow member is coated with a dielectric material whereby the frequency of operation of the electrode is limited to higher frequencies. 
     
     
         29 . The arrangement according to  claim 22 , wherein the control means is further arranged to automatically control the triggering unit to trigger the electromagnetic field generator to deliver bursts of radio frequency (RF) energy to the electrode of the elongated hollow member when the sensing unit determines that movement of the elongated hollow member is occurring. 
     
     
         30 . The arrangement according to  claim 22  wherein a burst of energy provided by the electromagnetic field generator comprises energy having an off-duration that is several orders of magnitude larger than an on-duration of the energy. 
     
     
         31 . An arrangement adapted to avoid seeding infectious cells during invasive medical procedures on a human body or an animal body, the arrangement comprising:
 an electromagnetic field generator;   an elongated hollow member having two ends and an electrode, the electrode positioned such that one portion of the electrode is at one of the two ends of the elongated hollow member, the electrode being connected to the electromagnetic field generator, the elongated hollow member being configured to be inserted into a human body or an animal body, the hollow member further comprising a hollow insulating sheath being longitudinally movable over the electrode to selectively surround the electrode thereby creating an insulating region;   a sensing unit configured to sense an effective penetration depth of the elongated hollow member in tissue, the effective penetration depth being varied in dependence on the movement of the hollow insulating sheath along the elongated hollow member; and   a control unit arranged to receive the sensed effective penetration depth from the sensing unit and control the electromagnetic field generator to deliver radio frequency (“RF”) energy bursts to the electrode, and being arranged to control the electromagnetic field generator in dependence on the sensed penetration depth, and comprising a triggering unit arranged to trigger the electromagnetic field generator to deliver RF energy bursts in dependence on variations of the sensed effective penetration depth of the elongated hollow member.   
     
     
         32 . The arrangement according to  claim 31 , wherein the hollow insulating sheath has a first part arranged to be insertable in tissue surrounding the electrode, and a second part arranged to hinder further penetration of the second part into tissue, the second part comprising a flange. 
     
     
         33 . The arrangement according to  claim 31 , wherein the electrode is longitudinally segmented with each segment individually controlled by the control unit wherein the control unit is arranged to control the triggering unit to trigger the electromagnetic field generator to deliver bursts of radio frequency (RF) energy to selected segments of the electrode, wherein a segment of the electrode that is positioned at an air-skin interface of the elongated hollow member can be deactivated whereby skin burn effects can be avoided. 
     
     
         34 . The arrangement according to  claim 31 , wherein the elongated hollow member comprises a plurality of electrodes each of which is individually controllable by the control means wherein the control means is arranged to control the triggering unit to trigger the electromagnetic field generator to deliver bursts of radio frequency (RF) energy to selected electrodes of the plurality of electrodes of the elongated hollow member. 
     
     
         35 . The arrangement according to  claim 31 , wherein the elongated hollow member is coated with a dielectric material whereby the frequency of operation of the electrode is limited to higher frequencies. 
     
     
         36 . The arrangement according to  claim 31 , wherein the control means is further arranged to automatically control the triggering unit to trigger the electromagnetic field generator to deliver bursts of radio frequency (RF) energy to the electrode of the elongated hollow member when the sensing unit determines that movement of the elongated hollow member is occurring. 
     
     
         37 . The arrangement according to  claim 31  wherein a burst of energy provided by the electromagnetic field generator comprises energy having an off-duration that is several orders of magnitude larger than an on-duration of the energy. 
     
     
         38 . A method for avoiding the seeding of infectious cells during an invasive medical procedure on a human body or an animal body, the method comprising:
 sensing a penetration depth in tissue of an elongated hollow member having two ends and an electrode, the electrode positioned such that one portion of the electrode is at one of the two ends of the elongated hollow member, the electrode being connected to an electromagnetic field generator; and   controlling the electromagnetic field generator to deliver radio frequency (“RF”) energy bursts to the electrode in dependence on the sensed penetration depth of the hollow member and triggering the electromagnetic field generator to deliver RF energy bursts in dependence on variations of the sensed penetration depth of the elongated hollow member.   
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 38 , further comprising the step of moving longitudinally a hollow insulating sheath along the elongated hollow member over the electrode wherein the elongated hollow member comprises a region that is electrically insulated in relation to the electrode, and whereby the effective length of the electrode can be varied without moving the elongated hollow member longitudinally. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 39 , further comprising the step of hindering insertion of the second part of the hollow sheath member into tissue by means of a flange associated with a second part of the hollow member. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 38 , wherein the step of sensing further comprises sensing a penetration depth in tissue of an elongated hollow member having a segmented electrode; and
 the step of controlling further comprises triggering the electromagnetic field generator to deliver bursts of radio frequency (RF) energy to selected segments of the electrode, wherein a segment of the electrode that is positioned at an air-skin interface of the elongated hollow member can be deactivated whereby skin burn effects can be avoided.   
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 38 , wherein the step of sensing further comprises sensing a penetration depth in tissue of an elongated hollow member having a plurality of electrodes; and
 the step of controlling further comprises triggering the electromagnetic field generator to deliver bursts of radio frequency (RF) energy to selected electrodes of the plurality of electrodes located in the elongated hollow member, wherein each of the electrodes is individually controllable.   
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 38 , wherein the step of controlling further comprises automatically triggering the electromagnetic field generator to deliver bursts of radio frequency (RF) energy to the electrode of the elongated hollow member upon sensing that movement of the elongated hollow member is occurring. 
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 38 , wherein the step of controlling further comprises controlling the electromagnetic field generator to deliver radio frequency (“RF”) energy bursts having an off-duration that is several orders of magnitude larger than an on-duration of the energy.